Konbi’s Japanese Egg Salad Sandwich: Tamago Sando Recipe · i am a food blog (2024)

Tamago sando, or egg salad sandwiches, are extremely popular in Japan – they even had a short run of tamago sando flavored potato chips! All of the combini (convenience stores) carry them, and as of late, there have been fancier tamago sando popping up too. But, if you want to keep it classic, just head towards the cooler in 7-11 or Lawson’s and pick up one of those ubiquitous soft and squishy triangles filled with a simple egg and kewpie filling.

The bread is cloud like, the filling the perfect balance of savory and salty, and together, the parts create a whole that is extremely nostalgic. People who know, just know, egg salad sandos are where it’s at. David Chang knows. Anthony Bourdain knew. Egg salad is a thing and it’s here to stay.

I always eat a tamago sando (or 8) when in Japan and this time, since we came home with a whole loaf of shokupan, I decided that we were gonna make our own. I went with a simple classic filling of medium-hard boiled eggs, kewpie mayo – absolutely essential – and a generous sprinkle of salt. Added in a couple of jammy eggs for a bit of visual contrast and boom, instant egg salad sandwich heaven. So nice to have a little taste of Japan, right here at home :)

PS – I based this guy off of Konbi’s famous egg salad sandwich. Still haven’t had one, but soon!

Konbi’s Japanese Egg Salad Sandwich: Tamago Sando Recipe · i am a food blog (1)

Konbi’s Japanese Egg Salad Sandwich: Tamago Sando Recipe · i am a food blog (2)

Konbi’s Japanese Egg Salad Sandwich: Tamago Sando Recipe · i am a food blog (3)

Konbi’s Japanese Egg Salad Sandwich: Tamago Sando Recipe · i am a food blog (4)

Konbi’s Japanese Egg Salad Sandwich: Tamago Sando Recipe · i am a food blog (5)

Japanese Egg Salad Sandwich: Tamago Sando Recipe
makes 1 sandwich


  • 4 large eggs
  • salt, to taste
  • 1-2 tablespoons kewpie mayo, or to taste
  • 2 slices fluffy white bread, crusts trimmed

Remove the eggs from the fridge as your bringing your water to a boil.

Prepare an ice bath with a large bowl of cold water and ice.

Bring a pot of water to rolling boil, then turn the heat down and gently add eggs in, with a slotted spoon. Turn the heat back up to medium high and maintain a simmer for 7 minutes. Remove 2 of the eggs, and leave the remaining 2 eggs in for another minute and a half.

Plunge the eggs into an ice bath to cool down. Peel the eggs: Gently tap the wide end of the egg on the countertop, then flip around and tap the pointed end. Gently roll the egg and peel, under running water, if it helps.

Cut the 7 minute eggs in half and set aside. Place the remaining two eggs in a bowl and use a fork to crush with the mayonnaise and a sprinkle of salt until a rough paste forms. Taste and adjust the kewpie mayo and salt.

Spread an even layer of egg salad on one slice of bread then arrange the cut eggs on the salad, nestling in gently. Top with the remaining slice of bread, then cut into three, being sure to cut perpendicular to the yolks, so when you turn the sandwich, you see the yolks.

9 Comments

  1. Emma says:

    May 29, 2019 at 5:13 pm

    I didn’t realize just how much the kewpie mayo would transform my standard egg salad sandwich. It’s a little sweeter than other mayonnaise I’ve had, but in combination with the eggs, it’s absolutely scrumptious.

    Reply

    1. Stephanie says:

      June 2, 2019 at 10:21 am

      hi emma,
      isn’t it amazing how different it tastes even though it is just mayo?! thanks so much for trying out the recipe :)

  2. Karen says:

    June 3, 2019 at 6:36 am

    I made it for lunch today. It was so cute and absolutely delicious

    Reply

    1. Stephanie says:

      June 3, 2019 at 6:43 pm

      yay! so happy you made it and liked it :)

      Reply

  3. Lilium Beau says:

    June 19, 2019 at 7:50 pm

    I can’t wait to try this as soon as my kewpie mayo comes in from Amazon! I’m planning on serving these for an afternoon tea. I was wondering if there is a traditional side? Would like to offer something other than chips. Thanks for the recipe!

    Reply

    1. Stephanie says:

      June 20, 2019 at 10:25 am

      hi lilium,
      anything goes – they don’t usually have a traditional side! i like your idea of them for afternoon tea, just some other sandwiches maybe? or a salad?

      Reply

      1. Lilium Beau says:

        June 20, 2019 at 7:07 pm

        Thank you!

        Reply

Leave a Reply

Konbi’s Japanese Egg Salad Sandwich: Tamago Sando Recipe · i am a food blog (2024)

FAQs

Why are egg sandwiches so good in Japan? ›

Good ingredients make all the difference

In Japan, high-quality fresh eggs with orange yolks are used in making the eggy spread. While these have the same nutritional content as those with yellow yolks, eggs that have an orange yolk are known to have a richer mouthfeel and a deeper flavor when eaten.

Why is egg sandwich so good? ›

At the heart of a great egg sandwich is a creamy egg filling and essential to this are soft boiled, not hard boiled eggs! The creamy yolks practically makes its own mayonnaise sauce and the soft-set egg whites almost melt in your mouth.

Where does the name Tamago Sando come from? ›

Tamago sando, or egg salad sandwich, is without a doubt one of the most popular sandwiches in Japan. If you've been to Japan, you might have tried one in a convenience store like 7-11, Lawson, or Family Mart. It is an iconic Japanese sandwich that everyone loves!

What is the origin of the egg salad sandwich? ›

The site suggests that someone in Britain may have created the first egg salad sandwich in the 19th century. In the U.S., Rooted In Foods tracked down an early recipe for "egg salad," turning up an 1899 article in a Hamilton, Ohio newspaper that calls for butter rather than mayonnaise.

Do Japanese eat eggs everyday? ›

It means that Japanese consumers eat eggs almost every day. Eggs are considered easy to prepare, and in addition to that, eggs are a food with high nutritional value because they contain abundant protein, fat, vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients.

Can I eat egg sandwiches everyday? ›

Eggs have gotten a bad reputation as being bad for heart health, but a meta-analysis published in the Journal of the American College of Nutrition found that eating up to one egg a day is not associated with an increased risk of heart disease and may even reduce the risk of stroke.

Are egg salad sandwiches healthy to eat everyday? ›

Egg salad is a classic sandwich stuffer, but with gobs of mayo mixed in, it can be high in unhealthy fats, sodium and calories. An average deli egg salad sandwich can have more than 550 calories, 30 grams of fat and 600 milligrams of sodium.

Which is healthier peanut butter sandwich or egg sandwich? ›

Eggs are a good source of complete protein, but peanut butter on it's own does not contain all the essential amino acids to be complete. If you're having your pb on whole wheat bread, then you will get those additional amino acids, but not if you use white bread for your toast.

What does tamago mean in Japanese? ›

The word “Tamago” actually means “egg” in Japanese, or “Tamagoyaki,” a Japanese omelet dish. It is a basic staple in Japan.

What does Japanese tamago mean in English? ›

The word "tamago" means egg in Japanese, and the word "yaki" means to be cooked over direct heat.

What is a Sando Japan? ›

Sando is Japanese and shortened English for Sandwich. By using milk bread (shokupan), we are able to accentuate the fresh and natural flavor profiles of every ingredient in a simple and smooth manner. You will not be able to forget this light and enjoyable Sando once you try it!

What is the ingredients for egg salad sandwich? ›

Instructions. Combine eggs, onions (if desired), mayonnaise, mustard, salt, pepper, and garlic powder (if desired), in small bowl; stir well to combine. Toast or grill your bread (optional).

Should an egg salad sandwich be refrigerated? ›

Egg salad is always better fresh, but you can certainly store it for up to 4 days in the fridge for quick lunches or for potlucks and picnics.

Why is egg salad runny the next day? ›

Every ingredient that goes into egg salad has water in it. Salt and sugar in the dressing draw the water out of the ingredients as they sit, and they make your egg salad watery regardless of whether it's in the fridge or in a sandwich.

Why does Japan have better eggs? ›

So what is different about Japanese eggs? In Japan, extensive measures are taken to ensure that eggs are safe to eat raw, even without breaking the shell. For instance, highly advanced machines are used to clean the eggs, check their quality, sort them by size and package them.

Why does Japan have the best eggs? ›

No eggs in the world are rated so high in quality as Japanese eggs. In Japan, there is strict hygiene management to prevent the spread of viruses, such as measures to prevent wild birds and small creatures from entering the hen coop, and thorough sanitization of staff as they enter and leave.

Why can you eat raw eggs in Japan but not America? ›

In other countries, eating eggs without cooking them is considered a bad idea, because of the risk of salmonella infection or other bacteria. In Japan, eggs are specially checked to make sure that they are safe to eat raw.

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